Lift door



P. CARLSON Oct. 14, 1941.

LIFT DOOR Filed Oct. 19, 1940 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR PH/L/F CARLsoM BY I ATTORNEY P. CARLSON Oct. 14, 1941.

LIFT DOOR Filed Oct. '19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Pl-l/L/P CARLSON. BY I ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PAT EiN r orrice [JET-DOOR Philip Carlson, Long Hill,Conn.

Application October '19, 1940, .SerialNo; 3615861 (crass-10s) 8 Claims.

(This invention relates to "new and useful .improvementsin doors andhas particular relation toa slidable. or lift door for a vehicle.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become-apparent fromiaconsideration'ofthe following .detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thedetails disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within'the spirit of theinvention and the scale through the door and door posts of the vehicle;

Fig. 3.is adetail-planview showing the 'construction at the forward horizontal portion of the guide 'channels, the door being substantiallyentirely open Fig. 4.'is a detail'sectional .view taken as along theline 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. '5 isa similar'view taken as along the plane of the'line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal'sectional :view through anredgeportion'oi the door and a guide channel; and

.Fig'. 7 isasomewhatsimilar view'through the lower edg portion of the door.

Referring in detail "to the drawings at H1 .is generally indicatedta portion of the body of1the vehicle, asfor-example a delivery truck. Body I includes a sheet metal roof or outer covering II and an inner lining i2 spaced from the roof ll whereby if desiredinsulating material may be disposed between 'these parts. Additionally the body is provided witharear or other door opening l3 defined aby vertically disposed doorposts l4 and I5 eachi'ncluding'a flang l6 extending into the door opening. The outer sheet metal covering of the body .is designated I l and its free edge portions H! .are carried about the flanges I6 and disposed at the inner sides thereof whereby to give the door opening a completed or finished appearance.

Disposed against the opposing sides-or faces of th door posts l4 and I5 are the vertical portions-:of channel members l9 and 20 comprising .guide means for a:slidable door to be described.

lit

The channel members are of .identical construction .andeach comprises a vertical portion .2 I secured to its :door post and .a horizontal portion 22 disposed under the roof of the vehicle .body and extending forwardly ithereinwand being connected'with-the .vertical portion through asuitable curve.

vMembers [.9 and Zllare so disposed that their open sides face one another and in. order to make a' rigid structure such members comprise I a relative large transversely 7U -.shaped:element:.23 within which is disclosed'an angle member .24 having 'an arm .25 disposed 'atthe properdistance from an' arm 26 of the element 23. Inthis way a relatively narrow channel 21 and a somewhat wider channel 28 are defined in each ofthemembers l9 and 29. Screws or other securing means 29 serve to secure the channel members 'Ii9and 20.to the doorpost and it 'is .preferred that the angle members be welded orotherwise'secured in the properposition in the-channel lements 23.

The locationsof .the channel members 1.9 and .20 relative 'to the edge portions IBof the body covering [.1 'issuch as to leave-aspaceor' channel 30'between th wall 260i each channelelement 23 andthe inturned'edge. portions 18 of the outer body covering. Disposed inthis space .or recess: 3ll and clamped thereinbetween wall 26 and covering portion i8 is 'a flange-like portion ill of arubber strip employed for'the purpose-of excluding dust. and the like as will appear. This strip includes an outer enlarged bead or headlike portion .32.

Disposed across the door opening and having its edge portions located in the channels 21 'is a doorl33 comprising a length of springy sheet metal. Theedge portions of the sheet metal door are perforatedand portionsof the metal cupped outwardly. about such perforationsas at 34. Ball bearings 35 are disposed in the cupped out portions toproject at both sides of the edgeportions of the door. Also relatively small plates35 are perforated 4 and cupped out as at 3! and secured to the edge portions of the door over the'hall bearings 35 with the latter projecting through the cupped out portions of said plates.

With this arrangement as will be clear from Figs. 2 and '6 the sheet metal door itself does not engage the walls 25 and ZB of the guideways 21 but such walls are engaged by the ball bearings. The small individual plates 36 are employed so asnot to unduly stiffenthe edge portions of the doorin such-a-mannerasmight-interfere with ease of movement of the door through the curved portions ofthe channels.

When the door is disposed with its lower edge at th bottom ends of the vertical portions of the channel members 9 and 20 the door is in closed position and th enlarged bead or headlike portions 32 of the rubber strips are substantially in engagement with the door toward each edge thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus these strips of rubber serve to exclude from the channels 21 and from the ball bearings 35 dust and th like so that the bearings will not become coated and choked with grit in any such manner as might interfere with free sliding movement of the door longitudinally in the channels.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the construction of the horizontal portions of the improved construction with the door substantially in open position its forward edge being well forwardly in the horizontal channel portions. At the forward ends of the channel members l9 and 20 is a troughlike casing 38 in which is mounted a support 39 having therein a counter balancing means 40 including a spindle 4| about which a spring means constantly tends to wind a strap or other flexible means 42.

Casing 38 at its rear side supports a bracket 43 carrying a rubber or other yieldable bumper 44 against which the forward or upper end of the door may engage when the door is fully open. Secured to the upper or forward end of door 33 is a rigid angle member 45 comprising a brace or stifiening means for such end of the door and this member 45 as best shown in Fig. 3 extends transversely of the door but stops just short of the channel members l9 and 20. A hook 46 is rigid with the intermediate portion of brace 45 and is connected with the free end of the strap or the like 42.

The purpose of the counter-balancing means is to assist in raising the door to open position as the spring of the counter-balancing means rewinds and such counter-balancing means also resists closing movement of the door as the spring of the means is unwound during such operation. Thus the counter-balancing means prevents free or casual closing of the door such as might cause injury to any one passing through the door opening or reaching therethrough.

A closure means or plate 41 (see Figs. 4 and extends between the horizontal portions of the channel members l9 and 20 and has its edges disposed on the lower horizontal wall of such members to which it may be secured in any desired manner. The forward edge of the closure 41 is secured or anchored to the channel member 38 as by screws 48. The purpose of the plate 41 is to prevent injury to any one that may be within the vehicle body when the door 33 is moved to open position. Preferably the plate is of light weight metal and may be stiifened by the formation of the corrugations 49.

Secured to the lower end of door 33 is a metallic brace or stiffening means generally designated 50 and against the lower end of which is secured a rubber sealing strip and bumper 5|. Bumper 5| is secured in place in that the lower end portion 52 of the door is entered into such bumper above the lower edge thereof and a clamping plate 53, secured to the member 50 as by screws 54, has an edge portion 55 engaging the rubber and holding it in position with the door portion 52 embedded therein.

An operating handle 56 is secured to the lower strengthened or braced door portion and may be used for raising or lowering the door as will be understood. Strengthening or bracing ribs 5'! may be spot welded or otherwise secured to the sheet metal door and extend transversely thereof but stop short of the edges of the door so as not to enter the channels 21 in any such manner as might interfere with free movement of the door.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a door comprising only essentially a sheet of springy metal and which door is so mounted and constructed as to be readily slidable in channels provided for that purpose where by the door may be opened and closed with a minimum of effort. The provision of the ball bearings together with the provision of the dust and dirt excluding rubber strips, of which the beads 32 are substantially in engagement with the door, serve to avoid a construction wherein dirt and the like may collect in the channels about the edges of the door and prevent free sliding movement of the latter. The counter-balancing means assists in opening of the door and further assists use of the door by partly controlling closing movements of the latter. The bumper 34 and the combined sealing strip and bumper 5| serve to take up or reduce any shock incident to rapid movement of the door at the limits of its fully opened and fully closed positions.

Having thus set forth the nature of my inven tion, what I claim is:

1. A vehicle body having a door opening, a vertical metal door post at each side of said opening and each including an integral flange projecting into said opening, channel means including vertical portions secured to each of said posts with their open sides facing one another, said channel means each including horizontal portions connected with said vertical portions, a door slidable in said channel means, said channel means spaced slightly from the flanges of said posts, and a weather strip wedged in the spaces between said flanges and channel means and including bead portions substantially engaging said door when the latter is in the vertical portions of said channel means.

2. A vehicle body having a door opening, a vertical door post at each side of said opening, channel means including vertical portions secured to each of said posts with their open sides facing one another, said channel means each including horizontal portions connected with said vertical portions, a slidable door comprising a sheet metal panel having its edge portions disposed in said channel means, a row of ball bearings mounted in each edge portion of the door in said channel means, and each of said ball bearings extending through each side of said panel and engaging the opposed walls of the channel means and guiding movements of the door therein.

3. A vehicle body having a door opening, a vertical door post at each side of said opening, channel means including vertical portions secured to each of said posts with their open sides facing one another, said channel means each including horizontal portions connected with said vertical portions, a slidable door comprising a sheet metal panel having its edge portions disposed in said channel means, a row of ball bearings mounted in each edge portion of the door in said channel means, and each of said ball bearings extending through each side of the panel engaging the opposed walls of the channel means and guiding movements of the door therein, and a weather strip means supported by the body and engaging said door immediately inwardly of said channel means when the door is in the vertical portions of the channel means whereby to protect said ball bearings from dust and the like.

4. A vehicle body having a door opening, a vertical door post at each side of said opening, channel means including vertical portions secured to each of said posts with their open sides facing one another, said channel means each including horizontal portions connected with said vertical portions, a slidable door comprising a sheet metal panel having its edge portions'disposed in said channel means, said edge portions of the panel having spaced perforations therein and cupped out about said perforations, ball hearings in said perforations and projecting through the cupped portions of the panel, and perforated and cupped plates secured to the panel and securing said ball bearings in place and through which the ball bearings extend at the other side of the panel whereby the opposite walls of said channel means are engaged only by said ball bearings as the door is moved.

5. A vehicle body having a door opening, a vertical door post at each side of said opening, channel means including vertical portions secured to each of said posts with their open sides facing one another, said channel means each including horizontal portions connected with said vertical portions, a slidable door comprising a sheet metal panel having its edge portions disposed in said channel means, said edge portions of the panel having spaced perforations therein and cupped out about said perforations, ball bearings in said perforations and projecting through the cupped portions of the panel, and perforated and cupped plates secured to the panel and securing said ball bearings in place and through which the ball bearings extend at the other side of the panel whereby the opposite walls of said channel means are engaged only by said ball bearing as the door is moved, and said plates individual to each of said ball bearings whereof to not unduly stiffen the edge portions of the door.

6. A vehicle body having a rear door opening, a pair of channel members disposed one at each edge of said opening and each including vertical and horizontal portions, a door comprising a sheet metal panel disposed with its edges in a channel of each member for sliding movement therein, a brace means rigidly secured on the upper end of said panel, and comprising a piece of angle iron of which one flange extends across said end of the panel and projects beyond the inner side thereof, a channel shaped support extending transversely of and located at the forward ends of the horizontal portions of said channel members with its open side facing upwardly, a bumper on the rear flange of said support in position to be engaged by said brace means when the door is fully open, counterbalancing spring means in said support, and flexible means connecting the brace means to said counter-balancing means.

7. A vehicle body having a door opening, a pair of channel members disposed one at each edge of said opening, each ofsaid members including a pair of channels in parallel relation, and each including vertical and horizontal portions, a door comprising a sheet metal panel disposed with its edges in a channel of each member for sliding movement therein, a brace means rigidly secured on the upper end of said panel, a support located at the forward ends of the horizontal portions of said channel members, a bumper on said support in position to be engaged by said brace means when the door is fully open, counter-balancing spring means in said support, flexible means connecting the brace means to said counter-balancing means, and closing means extending between and resting on and supported by the horizontal portions of the said other channels of said members and covering said bumper and the upper edge of the door when the latter is open.

8. A vehicle body having a door opening, a vertical door post at each vertical edge of said door opening, a projecting flange on each post, said flanges extending toward one another into said opening, channel means including vertical portions secured against the facing sides of said posts and having their open sides facing one another across the door opening, said channel means each including upper horizontal portions connected with said vertical portions, a door slidable in said channel means, said channel means spaced slightly inwardly on the posts from the flanges, and a weather strip secured in the spaces between said flanges and channel means and including a head portion substantially engaging said door when the latter is in the Vertical portions of said channel means.

PHILIP CARLSON. 

